Guides

How A Couple With A $60k Reno Budget Created A Mid-Century Modern Home With Iconic Lamps

Step into Shannon and Shawn’s (*not their real name for privacy reasons) 4-room HDB home in Sin Ming and the first thing that captures your attention is the half-wall colours of off-white and green that are reflected throughout most of…

• 28 Jul 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

5 Certain Property Predictions That Ended Up Very Wrong (No Thanks To Covid-19)

As Covid-19 was the most major event in the country (and possibly the world at the time), it’s inevitable that many of the causes below are directly or indirectly linked to the pandemic. We’ve often said there’s no good crystal…

• 26 Jul 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

8 Reasons Why Amo Residence Sold 98% Of Its 372 Units During Launch

AMO Residence launched last Saturday, and if you want a unit… well, you’re probably out of luck. All but seven of its 372 units sold over the weekend (98% sold), and the whole development may be sold out by the…

• 25 Jul 2022
• 9 min read
• 0

How To Prevent Renovation Nightmares: 9 Key Details To Look Out For In A Renovation Contract

Renovations can be one of the most stressful parts of home ownership. No doubt you’ve heard many horror stories over the years: home buyers blindsided by unexpected costs, terrible workmanship and delays, and – in worst-case scenarios – the contractor…

• 24 Jul 2022
• 8 min read
• 4

Tour A 1,001 Sqft HDB Home Transformation: How A Couple Broke Down Walls To Create A Bright Open-Plan Layout

There’s a reason why recently MOP-ed HDB units are in demand. Given the newer condition (compared to an older HDB resale), you’re less likely to spend a fortune for the reno since it’s newer.  However, this notion is not actually…

• 23 Jul 2022
• 11 min read
• 1

9 Key Details About Condo Sub-Sale Units Most People Are Unaware Of

There’s gonna be a bumper crop of new launches being completed in 2022 and 2023 (we’ve covered 10 of those here), and as such, more sub-sale units will likely be coming onto the market. A sub-sale can be a little…

• 22 Jul 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

Tour A Charming 1,300 Sqft European Farmhouse Inspired HDB Home In Bedok

It’s not often you see a home that is done up in a European Farmhouse style in Singapore.  For those who might not be familiar, a European Farmhouse design is actually one that sports a lived-in comfortable vibe, with a…

• 20 Jul 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

Why SERS Is Tough On Elderly Singaporeans And What Should We Do Beside 50-Year Leases?

Most Singaporeans consider the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) to be a good thing. The recent SERS in Ang Mo Kio, however, shows it’s not always a bed of roses: older Singaporeans can suffer greater drawbacks from SERS, and it’s…

• 18 Jul 2022
• 6 min read
• 3

Tour This 1,292 Sqft DBSS Home Transformation: How A Couple Converted Bay Windows & Planters Into Lovely Usable Spaces

When Sarah and Gareth (*not their real names) (@hownowbrownhouse) purchased their 5-room DBSS resale unit at Ang Mo Kio, they knew they had the right canvas to realise their dream home. “We purchased it as we wanted a larger unit…

• 18 Jul 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

“I Lost RM 1 Million Investing in KL Real Estate”: 5 Key Lessons From A Singapore Investor Of 36 Years

We’ve all heard stories of someone who has invested in Malaysian property and got burnt. From horror stories of the estate not having enough funds to pay for a working lift, or to developers running out of money to leave…

• 14 Jul 2022
• 9 min read
• 14

10 Old Iconic Private Apartments In Singapore In The 1970s/80s: A Conversation With Finbarr & Samantha

Did you know that high-rise apartments have actually been accused of many unpleasant outcomes? Chief of these are themes like fear, dissatisfaction, stress, behaviour problems, suicide, poor social relations, reduced helpfulness, and hindered child development. (Adapted from Robert Gifford, The…

• 11 Jul 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

Tour This Minimalist Korean Aesthetic Home In Telok Blangah Towers Built At A Cost Of $70k

Telok Blangah is an ideal place for those who want to reside in a peaceful area that’s not too far from Singapore’s urban landscape. Not only does it have amazing views of both lush greenery and the sea, but it’s…

• 9 Jul 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

10 Stunning Profitable Condo Transactions Bought And Sold In The Past 5 Years

Despite the big losses that we wrote about from those who bought in 2017, the reality is that the majority of people who bought back then would be really happy with their decision. Just look at the tables of losses…

• 6 Jul 2022
• 11 min read
• 0

Inside A New York Loft-Inspired 1,369 Sqft Home That Is Vibrant & Homely

A New York loft is something like living in a shophouse here in Singapore. Both are prevalent historic building types that are now very much part of the built identity of the cities.  Traditionally, a loft is an apartment within…

• 6 Jul 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

5 Key Consequences Of Rising Mortgage Rates In 2022

The median interest rate for home loans is set to double in as little as six months, and it would seem the era of cheap mortgages is coming to an end. Apart from a predictable rush for HDB instead of…

• 4 Jul 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

How This Old Maisonette In Paya Lebar Was Transformed With A $110k Renovation Budget

Did you know that the HDB stopped building maisonettes in 1995? And so owning this type of home nowadays means having to purchase an old one and renovating it to suit your preferences. But herein lies the challenge. As they…

• 2 Jul 2022
• 9 min read
• 0

A Freehold 3 Bedroom Unit For $880k? It’s Possible, If You Can Live In A Space Under 700 Sqft

Did you know that some of the smallest flats in Hong Kong can go as tiny as 186 square feet? For reference, that’s about the same size as 1 and a half car park lots.  But that’s for the subsidised…

• 30 Jun 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

10 Shocking Loss-Making Condo Transactions Since 2017 (The Last Market Bottom)

Conventional wisdom will point at the property market cycle and tell you that 2017 was the best time to buy in the last 5 years. After all, it was the lowest point in the residential property price index and for…

• 29 Jun 2022
• 14 min read
• 2